Orire Abduction: DSS Witness Says Captives Were Starved, Traumatised in Forest

A witness for the Department of State Services (DSS) has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that victims of the Orire school abduction were starved and subjected to severe psychological trauma while being held in captivity.

The witness, identified in court by the code name AAA, gave the evidence on Friday while being cross-examined by defence counsel, Bala Dakum.

She told the court that food was provided to the captives only at the discretion of their abductors, despite the presence of very young children among the victims, including a child as young as 18 months.

According to the witness, the captors also used the victims’ mobile phones to contact government officials during the period of captivity.

She said she did not know the telephone numbers that were called.

Following their rescue, the witness said she was questioned by DSS officials both at the agency’s office and while receiving treatment in hospital.

During her testimony, AAA identified three of the five defendants standing trial as people she had seen in the forest where the victims were held.

She said she subsequently learnt the identities of the other two defendants during questioning by DSS officers.

The witness also gave evidence concerning the deaths of two teachers, Michael Oyedoku and John Olaleye, who she said were killed at separate locations identified as Camp A and Camp B.

However, she told the court that she was not present when the two teachers were allegedly beheaded and therefore could not identify the individuals who carried out the killings.

The evidence forms part of the prosecution’s case against the five defendants accused of involvement in the abduction and other offences linked to the Ansaru group.

The witness’s account was given under cross-examination, meaning the defence had an opportunity to test her evidence before the court.

Justice Salim Ibrahim subsequently adjourned the trial until October 12.

The defendants remain subject to the ongoing court proceedings, and the allegations against them have yet to be finally determined by the court.